Joyce Ann Rethmann

Joyce Ann (Thomas) Rethmann, 81, died July 3, 2023, at Platteville, CO. She was laid to rest with her family after a graveside funeral service held at 10:00 a.m., July 22, at the Frankfort City Cemetery. Joyce Ann was born February 24, 1942, in Louisville, KY, daughter of Theodore and Edna Delphine (Nuzman) Thomas. She was the first born of four children raised in Frankfort, KS. She grew up on the acreage that had the stone barn outside of town. Joyce Ann loved animals and had many varieties of pets growing up. Once, she even had a pet squirrel that scolded her if she was late coming home from school. She cared for her younger brothers, James Arthur and John David, and sister, Janet Sue Preston, along with her cousins, Dena Jacobson, Linda Kinney and Michelle Flanagan. Her family moved from the farm into town to help and live with their Grandma Jenny Valentine Nuzman. In 1960, she graduated from Seneca High School. On June 10, 1961, she married Harold Eugene Rethmann. The newly married couple moved to Houston, TX, for Harold’s work. They had two children born in Houston, Katherine Diane (Barnett) and Harold Eugene, Jr. After a few years, Harold accepted a job in Miami, FL, programming computers. The whole family moved to Cutler Ridge (now Cutler Bay) suburb. While there four more children were born, James David, Elizabeth Ann (Morgan), Matthew Scott, and Amy Lorraine (McCarty). Joyce was busy as a Mom of 6 children and had many friends. She volunteered at church and schools. Harold, Joyce and their six children moved to the Denver, CO, area after staying with Grandma Delphine Thomas in Frankfort for a few months to finish up the school year in 1978. Busy with church, friends and family, Harold and Joyce’s last residence was in Platteville. Their home was big enough to have celebrations for the whole family. So there were plenty of fun times there. Joyce also joined the Lion’s club in Platteville and the Platteville Senior Center. She was the Chaplin for the Lion’s club and was awarded a Melvin Jones Fellow for dedicated humanitarian services, a high honor for Lion’s club members. Survivors include six children, thirteen grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, along with a sister, cousins, nephew and nieces. She will be honored for the blessed daughter, sister, granddaughter, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, niece, cousin and friend to many. She never failed to share the gospel because she greatly loved Jesus. She is missed. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joyce Ann Rethmann, please visit our flower store.